Have you ever found yourself with a collections management or registration methods question and no place to turn for an answer? The Support Office often receives these types of questions. Here are some of the resources we use to find the answers.
One of the resources we refer to regularly is Daniel B. Reibel’s Registration Methods for the Small Museum published by Rowman & Littlefield and the American Association for State and Local History. This book is a concise reference for anyone seeking an answer to almost any registration issue relating to a small museum. Reibel offers clear and straightforward guidelines for collections management procedures in an easily readable format.
Another book worth reading is published by the American Alliance of Museums called, The New Museum Registration Methods edited by Rebecca Buck and Jean Gilmore. This book offers excellent guidelines and advice on topics from marking and labeling to packing and shipping.
The above books are the ones we turn to again and again, but some other helpful resources include:
- A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections by Marie C. Malaro and Ildiko Pogany DeAngelis
- Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections by Angela Kipp
- Things Great and Small: Collections Management Policies by John E. Simmons
- Archives for the Lay Person by Lois Hamill
The American Association for State and Local History (https://www.aaslh.org) also has a number of books, technical tips, and pamphlets on collections management issues. There are a number of resources for collections management advice; sometimes it is a good idea to consult more than one. Some additional resources include Listservs and websites:
Additional websites in which you may be interested include:
| American Alliance of Museums | https://aam-us.org |
| American Association for State & Local History | https://aaslh.org |
| Canadian Museums Association | https://museums.ca |
| The Grantsmanship Center | https://tgci.com |
| Institute for Museum & Library Services | https://imls.gov |
| International Council of Museums | https://icom.museum |
| Museum Computer Network | https://mcn.edu |
| Museum Market | http://www.museummarket.com |
| Museum Study | https://museumstudy.com |
| MuseumsUSA | https://museumsusa.org |
| Northeast Document Conservation Center | https://nedcc.org |
| Northern States Conservation Center | https://collectioncare.org |